Means for fastening corrugated sheets and the like



Sept 8, 1931. G. A. BELDING 1,822,558

MEANS FOR FASTENING CORRUGATED SHEETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 ATTOR EY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. BELDING, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN'OR T ALUMINUM COM- PAIN'Y OF AMERICA'OF PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA MEANS FOR FASTENING CORRUGATED SHEETS AND THE LIKE Application filed August 2, 1929. Serial No. 383,109.

bendable end portions whereby the two flanges of the beam or purlin were engaged. This strip usually held rivets on top of the purlin and it was by means of these rivets extending through holes in the sheets that the latter were fastened. In laying the sheets,

the purlins were first provided at proper intervals with clips, that is, the strap was disposed on and the rivets extended through the strap projecting from the top of the purlins. The sheets having holes adapted to receive the rivets were then placed in position and the projecting shanks were upset to clamp the sheets. In these clips it was necessary to first position the rivets in the strap on the purlins. Due to the fact that rivets were inserted with their shanks upstanding, they ofttimes fell out of the holes in the strap. This, in addition to the tedious work involved in the proper insertion of the rivets, caused great inconvenience. Furthermore, the upsetting of the rivets had a tendency to loosen the clips, thereby reducing their effectiveness.

clip being provided with a laterally extending portion having means therein to receive I have found that I can overcome the abovea fastening element cooperating with the sheets to be fastened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip having its end portions adapted to engage a structural element, one of said end portions being shaped to conform to the portion of the structural element which it is adapted to engage, the other end being bendable and adapted to be forced into its position on the structural element, and a laterally extending portion adapted to receive a fastening element cooperating with the sheet.

Other objects will appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating one modification of a clip constituting this invention and applied in position, the structural element and sheet being shown in section.

Figure 2 is another modification of a clip constituting this invention and applied in position, the structural element and sheet being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figures 1 and 2 when viewed from the right.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, the reference numeral 1 deslgnates a purlin to which a corrugated sheet 2 is to be fastened. Though the drawings illustrate purlins and corrugated sheets, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and sheets of any nature used in building construction may be secured to any structural elements, such as beams, girders, etc; The sheet 2 is fastened to the purlin 1 by means of a clip 3 made from a flat bar, strip or plate of any suitable metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. One end 4 of the clip 3 is bent at right angles to the top 5 thereof and is adapted to engage the web of the purlin 1. The other end portion 6 is adapted to engage the lower surface of the top flange of the purlin. To attain this the clip is formed with a loop 7. Spaced from the end 4 a distance approximately equal to or greater than the width of the purlin which the clip is adapted to engage is a shoulder 8 offset with respect to the top of the clip, and is adapted to be spaced from or preferably engage the vertical edge of the purlin flange as desired. The overlapping portions forming the loop 7, as illustrated in the drawings, extend laterally from theshoulder 8 and is provided with two holes 9 and 10 adapted to align when 1n use.

In the manufacture of this clip, the end portion 4 is bent at right angles to the top of the clip, thereby conforming to the web of the purlin. The other portion, after the holes 9 and 10 have been drilled therein, is shaped to provide the shoulder 8 and then bent into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. To apply the clip it is only necessary to slip it under the purlin flange and force up the end 6 with a hammer, maul, etc., until it bears on the inside surface of the flange illustrated in Figure 1 by the full lines. The two holes 9 and 10 align themselves and offer a seating surface which is substantially parallel to the flange. A bolt 11 is then inserted in the hole 12 in the sheet 2 positioned so that it aligns with the holes 9 and 10, after which a nut 13 is screwed on the threaded shank of the bolt, whereby the sheet 2 is fastened. If desired, a washer 14 of any suitable material such as soft aluminum may be used beneath the bolt head 15. The bolt head 15, may, in case. corrugated sheets are used, be formed with a head which conforms to the crest of the corrugation when the nut is drawn up. It is to be understood that any other fastening means such as rivets, pins, etc. may be used instead of the nuts and bolts hereinbefore described. The construction just described and illustrated makes it possible to obtain a direct pull on the corruapplied in place, the clip is similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. It is provided with a loop 7 the overlapping portions thereof extending laterally from a shoulder 8 and together with the holes 9 and 10 in the overlapping portions similarl to the clip illustrated in Figure 1. It iffers, however, in that the end portion 6 is formed to conform to the lower surface of the flange and the end portion 4 is adapted to be bent in position on the purlin. In a plying the clip illustrated in Figure 2, it is s ipped over the flange of the purlin, the end ortion 6' engaging the lower surface of the ange of the purlin. The end 4 will assume the position shown in the dotted line in Figure 2. After the clip has been disposed on the purlin, the end 4' is forced into the full line position shown in Figure 2, whereby the clip securelg engages the purlin. A bolt 11' is inserte through the hole 12' in the corru ated sheet 2' and the holes 9' and 10' in the aterally extending portion of the clip, after which a nut 13' is screwed on the threaded shank thereof.

The individual clips above described may also be made by transversely cutting a solid extruded form of some length and having the desired cross-section. Preferably, the extruded clip section would take the form of the clip illustrated in Figure 1, the loop end 7 being formed integrally with the shoulder portion 8 to conform to the purlin flange and the portion 4; extending horizontally or angularly as shown. Individual clips cut from such a section would only necessitate drilling of the holes 10 to receive the clamp -bolt 11. The mounting of the purlin is obwith structural elements of corresponding sizes. Due to the combination and structure of the various parts, there is obtained a direct pull which results in a secure fastening.

Since it is obvious that various changes may be madein the specific details above set forth without departing from the nature of the invention, this application is not limited thereto except as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A fastening device for securing sheets to purlins or the like comprising end sections, one of said end sections being adapted to engage the web of the purlin and the other be ing adapted to engage the under surface of the flange of said purlin, one of said end sectionsbein the part 0 the purlin which it is adapted to engage, the other being adapted to be forced in position, an intermediate body memberadapted to engage the up er surface of the purlin and havin a s oulder normally sha d and adapte to contact with the vertica edge of the flange, the body member adjacent said shoulder and the end which engages the under surface of the flange extending laterall and being looped and provided with a ho e to receive a single sheet retaining element.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification.

GEORGE A. BELDING.

normally shaped to conform to 

